Clasp



Oct. 24, 1950 v w, LESTER 2,527,484

CLASP Filed June 14, 1946 A? WNW Z /4 Mi HIMI II mliumn INVENTOR MMAL-375;?

BY I 'zTToRNEY i Patented Oct. 24, 1950 CLASP r r Williain M. I; e ster,Mountainside, J. a Application June 14, 1946, Serial No. 676,795

' v 2 Claims. (Cl. 24-251) The invention herein .disclosed relates to aclasp that issuitable. for garters, suspenders etc., more particularly,the invention relates to a clasp that has relatively movable jawsbetween which the article to be secured is clamped.

An object of this invention is to provide a clasp of the kind mentionedthat may be made. of molded, plastic parts. Another object of theinvention is to provide a clasp of this kind that is reliable in use,simple in construction and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

, 2 inder. At the end of the portion 6 of this element, there is formeda strap receiving or securing bracket I2 of reduced thickness. Thisbracket has a strap-receiving slot I3 therein and an entering slot I4through which the loop in a strap may be entered in the slot I3 and sohold the clasp. A slot-I5 runs longitudinally of the element from thetransverse, strap-receiving slot I3 past the axes of the bearing socketsI and II to a point adjacent the clamping face of the jaw I portion ofthe element. The outer side of the The foregoing objects .and certainadvantages that will hereinafter appear are realized in the embodimentof the invention disclosed in the accompanying drawing and described indetail .is also provided with teeth II for cooperation below from whichdescription a clearer understanding of the invention may be had.

The drawing includes:

Fig. 1 which is a plan of a clasp embodying the invention; a

Fig. 2 which is a side elevation of the same;

. Fig. 3 which is a bottom plan of the same; Fig.4 which is a transversesection of'the same taken on the line 4-4 of Fig.1;

Fig. 5 which is a plan of one of the elements of the clasp; and Fig;6-which isa plan of another element of the clasp. 3 i

? In general-the clasp illustrated in thedrawing includes two relativelymovable elements I and 2 and a slide 3 which is movable longitudinallyof the elements I and 2. The elements are pivotally related betweentheir ends at 4. A portion 5 of the element I on one side of the pivotalaxis constitutes a clamping jaw and the portion 6 on the other side ofthe pivotal axis constitutes an extension of the jaw. In like manner,the portion I of the element 2 on one side of the pivotal axisconstitutes a clamping jaw and the portion 8 on the other side of thepivotal axis constitutes an extension. In the closed or clampingposition of the jaws, the extensions 6 and 8 diverge from the pivotalaxis. The slide 3 engages opposite sides of the elements I and 2 andwhen moved to engage the extensions moves the jaws to unclampingposition and when moved toward the jaws, the jaws are moved to and heldin clamping position.

The element I is a flat molded piece. The clamping jaw portion 5 hasformed thereon a plurality of triangular shaped teeth 9 for gripping thematerial to be clasped. Intermediate its ends on the clamping face sidethere are formed spaced bearing sockets III and I I, adjacent each sideedge, which are sectors of a cylelement I is recessed for approximatelythe length of the slot I5 for receiving a part of the slide 3 as willhereinafter appear.

The clamping jaw portion. 1 of the element 2 with the teeth .9in-clamping material between .the jaws. The extension 8of the element 2makes an angle with, the clamping jaw portion; it is inclined to theplane of the jaw portion at an At the apex of the angle, there is formedon the element 2 a pair of lugs I8 and I9 that are complementary to andreceived in the bearing sockets II) and I I formed in the element I."These lugs acting in the sockets .constitute a pivot about which thetwo elements are relatively movable to effect movement of the jaws fromvclamping to unclamping positions. ;.The lug and socket arrangement alsoserves to I5 in the element I.

The slide includes a connecting portion 2| which in the assembled claspextends through and is slidable in the slots I5 and 20. At one end ofthe connecting portion of the slide there is a retaining portion 22which is wider than and extends transversely of the connecting portion.This retaining portion is received in the recess in the outer surface ofthe element I and engages that surface on opposite sides of the slottherethrough. At the opposite end of the connecting portion 2|, there isalso a transverse portion 23 which engages the outer surface of theelement 2 on both sides of the slot 20. This portion has a convexedengaging surface 24. The outer surfaces of the transverse portions 22and 23 are serrated for ease of manipulation of the slide. The length ofthe connecting portion of the slide is approximately the same as thecombined thickness of the elements I and 2, so that when the slide is inthe position shown, the jaws are in, and held in clamping position,

In the clamping position of the jaws, the extensions 6 and 8 of theelements I and 2 diverge from the pivotal axis 4 because of the angularrelation of the extension 8 to the jaw I. When the slide 3 is moved toengage the extensions 6 and 8, the extensions are brought together andthe jaws are moved to open or unclamping position. As the thickness ofthe connecting portion 2| of the slide is greater than entering slot I4,the slide cannot become separated. Of course when a strap is engaged inthe strapreceiving slot l3, the entering slot I4 is closed by the strap.In assembling the clasp, the con-' necting portion 2| of the slide isforced through the entering slot I4 into the slots l5 and 20. Thematerial has sufficient resiliency to permit this to be done.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the three partsn'laking up the clasp are of such shape that they are readily molded inthe common two part mold.

It will also be obvious that various changes may be made by thoseskilled in the art in the details of the embodiment of the inventionillustrated in the drawing and described above within the principle andscope of the invention as ex- 1 pressed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. As an article of manufacture, a clasp of the kind describedcomprising in combination a pair of relatively movable elementspivotally related between their ends, the portio'ns of the elementsdiverging in the clamping position of the jaws and a longitudinal slottherethrough extending from the end of its extension past the pivot, anda slide consisting of a single piece of material and including a centralportion of greater thickness than the entering slot to said strapsecuring bracket, and transverse portions at the ends of the centralportion engaging opposite surfaces of the elements.

2. As an article of manufacture, a clasp of the kind describedcomprising in combination a pair of relatively movable elements, one ofsaid elements bein flat and including an off-set portion constituting aclamping jaw at one end thereof, a strap securing bracket at theopposite end thereof having a transverse strap receiving slot and acentral entering slot, the element having intermediate the ends thereofspaced, transverse, cylindrical depressions and a longitudinal slotaligned with said entering slot, of greater width than the entering slotand extending from said transverse slot past said cylindricaldepressions, the other element includin a portion constituting aclamping jaw and a diverging extension, cylindrical lugs on said secandmentioned element at the point of divergence and received in thecylindrical depressions in the first mentioned element, the secondmentioned element having a longitudinal slot therethrough extending fromthe end of its extension past said cylindrical lugs, and a slideconsisting of a single piece of material and including a portion ofgreater thickness than the entering slot to said securing bracket, andtransverse portions at the ends of the central portions engagingopposite surfaces of the elements.

WILLIAM M. LESTER.

REFERENCES CITED 7 The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 474,719 Brande May 10, 1892496,721 Chatellier May 2, 1893 806,265 Kesler et a1 Dec. 5, 19051,929,840 Farrell Oct. 10, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date71,438 Switzerland Mar. 4, 1915 145,423 Switzerland May 16, 1931 270,228Germany Feb. 12, 1914

